Latin American air carrier Avianca is offering a special discount period on airfares to nine North American destinations in the United States and Canada from Costa Rica and other Central American nations. Ticket prices range between $399 and $549, and they include travel during the busy holiday season.

According to a news report filed by Karla Madrigal of business daily La Republica, one-way flights from the Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) in Costa Rica to Dallas, Houston and Miami would cost $399 as long as they are booked between today and November 23^rd. The travel period is from December 1^st to June 10^th of next year. The only blacked out days in which this discount will not apply are December 18^th and December 23^rd, 2015.

Flights from Costa Rica to Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Washington will range between $499 and $549. The only Canadian destination in this promotion by Avianca is Toronto.

Avianca’s regional director for Central America and the Caribbean mentioned that other departure airports included in this special holiday promotion include Managua, Guatemala City, San Pedro Sula, Tegucigalpa, and El Salvador.

This holiday promotion by Avianca arrives months after The Costa Rica Star suggested that major air carriers were monitoring the business moves made by discount airlines in our country:

This is creating much needed competition in the Central American air travel segment; in fact, major carriers such as Avianca are paying attention and offering special offers. Avianca is testing a $249 rate to fly between Central American destinations; this is a breath of fresh air considering that most of these trips usually cost $600.

Earlier this year, various discount airlines offered special discounts on travel from the U.S. to Costa Rica at the beginning of the high tourist season; those promotions have largely run out by now.